Comments on: Dispatch from Alabama #1: Cynics Need Not Applyhttp://openspace.sfmoma.org/2009/06/dispatch-from-alabama-1-cynics-need-not-apply/ The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s Open Space supports and solicits critical and experimental responses to art, institutions, and culture.Wed, 29 Jul 2015 18:59:04 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.7By: Jennifer Dunlop Fletcherhttp://openspace.sfmoma.org/2009/06/dispatch-from-alabama-1-cynics-need-not-apply/comment-page-1/#comment-15238 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:46:27 +0000http://blog.sfmoma.org/?p=3608#comment-15238I’m so glad that the Rural Studio is still going strong and inspiring designers. I grew up in Auburn and have hometown pride in Mockbee’s ingenious project.

Bringing it back to SFMOMA, please do check out William Christenberry’s photographs of Hale County. SFMOMA has several in the permanent collection (but I don’t see images of them on the museum website). They caption the lush yet dilapidated dichotomy of the area really well.

]]>By: Julian Myershttp://openspace.sfmoma.org/2009/06/dispatch-from-alabama-1-cynics-need-not-apply/comment-page-1/#comment-13810 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:18:05 +0000http://blog.sfmoma.org/?p=3608#comment-13810I’ll second Tim’s question, and add to it – were the big 20th century movements in design historically urban and suburban? There have been various “back to nature” moves, but any design movements who took rural design as a central concern?

And, if you’ll forgive a tiny sprig of cynicism in the soup of positivity – must we choose between urban-abstraction and rural pragmatism? Might that clichéd dichotomy be under any pressure from increasing networking and “exurbization”? Even in the farthest reaches of Alabama. I recall trailers with satellite dishes; the women of Gee’s Bend have a website; etc.

]]>By: Tim Belonaxhttp://openspace.sfmoma.org/2009/06/dispatch-from-alabama-1-cynics-need-not-apply/comment-page-1/#comment-13735 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:13:36 +0000http://blog.sfmoma.org/?p=3608#comment-13735Something very inspiring about Project M is its ability to attract amazingly creative and intelligent individuals—both as participants and advisors. These people donate their time, intellect, and (as Eric aptly points out) a lot of sweat. There are many great reasons to draw someone to participate in Project M, but I’m curious, why didn’t something like this happen in design earlier? ]]>By: stephanie claytonhttp://openspace.sfmoma.org/2009/06/dispatch-from-alabama-1-cynics-need-not-apply/comment-page-1/#comment-13537 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:58:00 +0000http://blog.sfmoma.org/?p=3608#comment-13537Refreshing indeed. It’s wonderful to see such a project in a rural area of my beloved home state. I’m wandering over to The Rural Studio link for more info. ]]>